Wrap mechanism



Nov. 26, 1946. o. FREGEOLLE' WRAP MECHANISM Filed April 9, '1946 2Sheets-Sheet 1 [NYE/V7771? Nov. 26, 1946. o, FREEOLLE v v12,411,719

WRAP MECHANISM Filed April 9, 1946 I 2 sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-3 =5 Q);

Patented Nov. 26 1946 Central Falls, It. I., a corporation ofMassachusetts Oscar Fregeolle, Centr 'Hem-phill Comp y,

6 Claims.

- This application U. S. application No. 559,136, filed October 1 8, 194i. i r This invention relates to an improvement in circular,-independent needle knitting machines of the superposed, co-axialcylinder type and, in particular, to wrap mechanisms for such machinesin which are included a spindle adapted to be positioned. botheccentrically and 'concentri-' cally of-the cylinders and a wrap horn. Arnachine of this character is described in co-pending a-pplication"#559,136, filed October- 18, 1944. By this invention means is providedfor moving the wrap horn into andout of operating position-through: themotion of the wrap spindle from. concentric to eccentric position-andvice versa. One form of the inventioniis shown in the drawings or which:

Fig; 1 is av view partly in section of a partof.

a. knitting machine of the type referred to; illustrating in particularthe operativeand inoper ative positions of the wrap horn and the meansby which it is moved from one position to the "Figs 2. isa .view of apart of the wrap horn. op'- erating mechanism. as positioned when thewrap spindle, is moving, intoits eccentric wrapping po- ApplicationApril9, 1946, Serial No. 660,790

is a continuation in part of ping head (not shown), the elevation ofwhich is that suitable for wrapping selected needles sition and the wraphorn. in i-ts operatin'g position:;..

'uFig. 3 is a plan of a of Fig. l 's'howe ing. the position of certainparts when the wrap spindle is in its concentric position and. the;wrap. horn inoperative; and. azFig, ,4 isanelevation of: thexpartsshown. in Fig. 3 and representing thesame conditions. :In twocylindermachines of the above-type and as described in theco-pending-qapplication reterr'ed to, the wrap. spindle,..wheninoperative, is pqsitioned substantially in thegcenter of the cylinder,i. e., concentric-therewith. To wrap, this spindle is. swung from thiscentral position until itsjwrappinghead overlaps theneedle. circle abovethe .needlesyof the lower. cylinder incthe manner. well, known in:connection with. single cylindermachines. .Also, as is well known inrelation to single cylinder machines, a wrap horn isused under which,

heightsfor the .wrapping'operation. I

In Fig. 1 of the drawings, the lowerand upper cylinders-areshown-at land2 respectively. The wrap spindle 3 projects through the upper cylinderand terminates at its lower end in a wrapdash line at 4.

. of plate l3 whereby it p As shown in Fig. 1, wrap horn one end on ashaft 5 nally adjustable.

working in the lower cylinder. The associated wrap horn 4 is shownin itsinoperative position by solid line and in its operating position by dotand dash line at desired contour, that shown being the improved typedescribed and claimed in co-pending application #607,300, filed July 27,1945.

This invention relates to the mechanism whereby the wrap horn is movedfrom its inoperative to its operative position and viceversaautomatically and in timewith the movement of the wrap spindle to andfrom its inoperative'and operative positions.

4 is mounted at upper end by plate-6. other platefl in such away that itis longitudi- Plate '1 is rigidly mounted on the top of a shaft mostposition by a spring i=0.

In Fig. 1 shaft 8 is shown in full line in its up position and wrap'horn4 is also shown in full line in position ofshaft '8 is 8,and' thecorresponding down or operative positionof wrap horn 4 is indicated indot and II of plate 1 moves in a slot 12 is held in longitudinalalignment. Associated with the outer end H of plate I is abell crank I4,the lower end l5 of which underlies plate 1 as best shown in Figs. 1, 2and 4. If the upper arm I 6 of hell cranl; l-4 -is rocked so that itslower arm I5 is raised, as shown in Fig. 4, plates 1 and 6 and shaft'5will be raised to move wrap horn 4 into the inoperative position shownin full line in Fig. 1. If Lbell crank I4 is permitted to rock-in theother direction so that its arm l5 swings downward, plate 1 and 6 andshaft 5 will lower wrap horn 4 into its operative position shown in dotand dash line at 4' inFig. '1.

"The outer end- 8, which is the support for these elements,'willtheiwrap-yarn passes on its way from the, wrap- I ping-head to theneedles selected for, wrapping: to. be guided and" maintained attheproper' move down to the extent permitted-"by slot 12 through whichplate- 1 extends.

Bell crank it is operated as just described by the means which supportsthe wrap spindle and which moves the wrap spindle between its concentric and eccentric position. This consists of 18' swingably asubstantially, annular plate mounted at one side I9 and which issupported, preferably, by a ball bearing 20. Plate l8 sup- 4'. This hornmay be of any which is rigidly held at its Plate 8' is fastened to'an- 8which is longitudinally slidable in a sleeve 9 and is urged towards itslower- Springv II! will insure that shaft ports a gear (not shown) bymeans of which the wrap spindle is driven and which is keyed to the wrapspindle. For further details of this arrangement reference may be had toco-pending application #559,136.

The other side of plate I8 is provided with an extension or arcuateportion 2| on which is mounted a roller 22. Roller 22 runs upon a track23 best shown in Figs. 3 and 4 which thus serves as the support for thisside of plate I8. Because of ball bearing 20 and roller 22 plate I8 andthe wrap spindle assembly can swing freely upon the ball bearing as apivot along track 23. The means for swinging plate I8 as described isindicated at 24. It can take any suitable form. Track 23 is providedwith adjusting nuts 25 and 26 by means of which the limit of swing ofplate I8 in each direction can be established.

Extending outwardly from arcuate portion 2| is a pin 21 adapted toengage with the inside edge of arm I6 of bell crank I4. The arrangementis such that when plate I8 is swung in the direction to position wrapspindle 3 concentrically of the cylinder pin 21 will engage arm I6 ofbell crank I4 to rock it in the same direction and to thereby raise theother arm I5 of bell crank I 4 and, through the connections described,raise the wrap horn 4 into its up inoperative position. When plate I8 isswung the other way to move the warp spindle into its eccentricoperating position pin 21 will tend to leave arm I6 which, consequently,permit shaft 8 to drop through inertia and the efiect of spring I 0, sothat the wrap horn is lowered into its operative position.

It is essential that the wrap horn shall be in operative position beforethe wrap spindle reaches its operative position. Consequently, the partsare so arranged that bell crank I4 will operate to lower the wrap hornduring the first part of the swing of plate I8 after which plate I8continues to swing until wrap spindle 3 is established in its operativeposition, pin 21 leaving arm I6 during this part of the swing. This isillustrated in Fig. 2 in which it will be'noted that plate 1 and,consequently, the wrap horn has been fully lowered when roller 22reaches the full line position shown in Fig. 2. The final position ofroller 22 at the end of the swing of plate I8 in this direction is shownin dot and dash line at 22'.

From this it follows that, when plate I8 swings in the other directionto transfer wrap spindle 3 from its operative to its inoperativeposition, the initial part of this swing will not affect the position ofthe wrap horn which will remain in its operative position until pin 21again strikes arm I6 of bell crank I4 and swings it backward so thatplate I is lifted by the upswing of arm I5. That is to say, the horn isnot raised until the wrap spindle has been swung out of the way. Theresulting position of bell crank I4 and plate I is shown inFig. 4.

I claim: f

1. For a circular, independentneedle, knitting machine having a wrapspindle and wrap horn, the combination of a support for said spindleadapted to be swung between a position in which the spindle is eccentricto the needle circle and a position in which said spindle issubstantially concentric with the needle circle and means operated bysaid support for moving said wrap horn into inoperative position whensaid support is swung to move said spindle into it's concentric positionand for causing said wrap horn to be moved into operating position whensaid support is swung to move said spindle into its eccentric position.

2. For-a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a wrapspindle and wrap horn, the combination of a support for said spindleadapted to be swung between a position in which the spindle is eccentricto the needle circle and a position in which said spindle issubstantially concentric with the needle circle and means operated bysaid support for raising said wrap horn into inoperative position whensaid support is swung to move said spindle into its concentric positionand for causing said wrap horn to be lowered into operating positionwhen said support is swung to move said spindle into its eccentricposition.

3. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine havin a wrapspindle and wrap horn, the combination of a support for said spindleadapted to be swung between a position in which the spindle is eccentricto the needle circle and a position in which said spindle issubstantially concentric with the needle circle and means operatedbysaid support for raising said wrap horn into inoperative position duringthe final stage of the swinging of said spindle towards its concentricposition and for causing said wrap horn to be lowered into operatingposition during the initial stage of the swinging, of said spindle toits eccentric position by said support.

. 4. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine having a wrapspindle andwrap horn positive means for raising said wrap horn from alow to a high position, resilient means for returning said wrap horn tosaid low position, swingable means for controlling said wrap hornraising and lowering means, said swingable means also being the meanswhereby the wrap spindle is moved to and from a position substantiallyconcentric with the needlecircle.

5. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine of thesuperposed co-axial cylinder type having a wrap spindle and a wrap horn,the combination of a support for said spindle adapted to be swungbetweena position in which the spindle is eccentric to the needle circleand a position in which. said spindle is substantially concentric withtheneedle circle and means operated by said support formoving said wraphorn into inoperative position when said support is swung to move saidspindle into its concentric position and for causing said wrap horn to.be moved into oper-- ating position when said support is swung to movesaid spindle into its eccentric position.

6. For a circular, independent needle, knitting machine of thesuperposed co-axial cylinder type having a wrap spindle and a wrap horn,the combination of a support for said spindle adapted to be swungbetween a, position in which the spindle is eccentric to the needlecircle and a position in which said spindle is substantially con--centric with the needle circle and means operated by said support forraising said wrap horn into inoperative position during the final stageof the swinging of said spindle towards its concentric position and forcausing said wrap horn to be lowered into operating position during theinitial stage of the swinging of said spindle to its eccentric positionby said support.

OSCAR 'FREGEOLLE.

